Cirrhosis Support Group
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease, most commonly caused by alcoholism and hepatitis C. Ascites is the most common complication of cirrhosis and is associated with a poor quality of life, increased risk of infections, and a poor long term outcome. Liver damage from cirrhosis cannot be reversed, but treatment can stop or delay further progression and...
An article in today's NYT ring a bell with me but I believe The problem for drinkers is that over the years, a lot of so called friends
are really just drinking buddies, and when the drinking has to end then the relationship is no easily sustainable, Unless there is more of a connection to begin with.
I Think this factor also effects marriages when one person stops the drink and the other carries on.
Unless its always been that way. I find its difficult to meet new people when not able to drink. when all the others are getting merry its no fun drinking orange juice
I usually just make the excuse I 'm driving so cannot indulge far easier than the explanation of liver problems which make others uncomfortable.
August 16, 2010, 4:54 PM
When Friends Disappear During a Health Crisis
By TARA PARKER-POPE
Brian Stauffer
During times of crisis, we often depend on our friends for support. Now, psychologists are just beginning to explore why some friends seem to disappear during difficult times, unable to cope with other peoples trauma.
Harriet Brown, whose family has endured a rare childhood illness, anorexia and the death of a loved one in the past few years, writes about the reaction of those closest to her family.
A couple of friends disappeared entirely. At first, I barely noticed; I was overwhelmed with getting through each day. As the year wore on, though, and life settled in to a new if unpleasant version of normal, I began to wonder what had happened.Maybe they were just sick of the disasters that now consumed our lives; just because we were stuck with them didnt mean our friends had to go there, too.
To learn more, read the full story, Coping With Crises Close to Someone Elses Heart, and then please join the discussion below. Did your friends disappear when you needed them most? Or are you someone who has found it difficult to support a friend in crisis?
are really just drinking buddies, and when the drinking has to end then the relationship is no easily sustainable, Unless there is more of a connection to begin with.
I Think this factor also effects marriages when one person stops the drink and the other carries on.
Unless its always been that way. I find its difficult to meet new people when not able to drink. when all the others are getting merry its no fun drinking orange juice
I usually just make the excuse I 'm driving so cannot indulge far easier than the explanation of liver problems which make others uncomfortable.
August 16, 2010, 4:54 PM
When Friends Disappear During a Health Crisis
By TARA PARKER-POPE
Brian Stauffer
During times of crisis, we often depend on our friends for support. Now, psychologists are just beginning to explore why some friends seem to disappear during difficult times, unable to cope with other peoples trauma.
Harriet Brown, whose family has endured a rare childhood illness, anorexia and the death of a loved one in the past few years, writes about the reaction of those closest to her family.
A couple of friends disappeared entirely. At first, I barely noticed; I was overwhelmed with getting through each day. As the year wore on, though, and life settled in to a new if unpleasant version of normal, I began to wonder what had happened.Maybe they were just sick of the disasters that now consumed our lives; just because we were stuck with them didnt mean our friends had to go there, too.
To learn more, read the full story, Coping With Crises Close to Someone Elses Heart, and then please join the discussion below. Did your friends disappear when you needed them most? Or are you someone who has found it difficult to support a friend in crisis?
I try not to think about people I thought were friends who have not called me. I am trying to focus on my husband and living day to day and being thankful for each day.
People have so many "reasons" for not being supportive. Our "civilized" culture has a strange reaction to illness and death.
As for meeting new non-drinking friends, it is hard for me too; I'm very introverted (since not drinking!). I did volunteer work and met two or three people I can call friends. My advice: Find places where everybody else is sober, and you will make friends -- real ones that you have things in common with. It might not happen overnight, but it will happen. God bless, and thanks for the story reference.
Take care all and God bless :)
My best friend of 24 years and I have been really busy so it was hard for us to get together the last few months. But we talk on the phone. Anyways her hubby looked at me and said "you know I was expecting you to get out of your van and just look horrible and you come out looking great, you look like your not letting it beat you." That is the sign of true friendship, when they stick it out and do their own research to understand and let you know they are there for you at any point in the disease. I may be lonely and we may not spend much time with my bestie and her hubby, but I know I have them no matter how this disease turns out.
Forget fake friends and find just the ones that makes it all worth while! Even if it is just over the internet, I have a friend that is in Canada and I am in the states and we will never meet but we are friends.
I hope all of you are blessed with at least one good friend in your life, it is a great and wonderful feeling.